Online Business Program Frequently Asked Questions

Application Deadlines

DOES YOUR OFFICE NEED TO RECEIVE ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS BY THE APPLICATION DEADLINE?

It's best to submit your application and all required documentation before the deadline. Please note that classes fill up quickly, so the sooner your application is complete, the better.

Transcripts

WHAT ARE THE TRANSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION?

Please upload official copies of transcripts to the application. If you are offered admission, you will then be required to provide official transcripts prior to the second semester of enrollment.

WHERE SHOULD I SEND MY TRANSCRIPTS?

Official transcripts should be mailed directly from the degree-granting institution via the U.S Postal Service to:

KU Visitor Center Graduate Admissions
1502 Iowa St.
Lawrence, KS 66045

DO YOU ACCEPT SECURE ELECTRONIC TRANSCRIPT DELIVERY SERVICE SENT DIRECTLY FROM THE ISSUING INSTITUTION?

Yes. Please have secure electronic transcript delivery service sent directly from the issuing university to graduateadm@ku.edu.

CAN I SCAN AND SUBMIT A PHYSICAL TRANSCRIPT DOCUMENT? IF SO, WHAT EMAIL ADDRESS SHOULD I USE?

Copies of official transcripts can be scanned and submitted during the application process for initial review. Documents uploaded with your application are not considered official. KU does not consider transcripts that come from applicants or that have been in the applicant's possession as official. Official e-transcripts must be sent from the issuing institution and can be sent to graduateadm@ku.edu. If you’re unsure of how to upload the document, feel free to send it to your admissions outreach advisor.

DO I NEED TO OBTAIN COPIES OF ALL MY TRANSCRIPTS, EVEN IF I ONLY TOOK ONE COURSE AT AN INSTITUTION?

No. In this case, transcripts from the institution(s) that issued your degree(s) should be prioritized.

I DO NOT HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM THE U.S. WHAT OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS DOES KU REQUIRE?

You must follow the same application checklist as U.S. degree holders in the school’s primary language, and it must be translated into English. You can view the application checklist for the online MBA program here. Graduate Admissions will complete a transcript evaluation for GPA and academic credential verification.

Test Scores

HOW DO I SEND MY SCORES TO KU?

When registering for the exam, select KU in the dropdown for where you would like to send your scores. Your unofficial scores will be presented immediately following the completion of the assessment and emailed to you. The school you selected will receive your official scores within seven business days.

WILL MY APPLICATION STILL BE CONSIDERED IF MY TEST SCORES DO NOT ARRIVE BY THE SPECIFIED DEADLINE?

No. Your admissions application will not be considered complete without test scores.

DO YOU ACCEPT THE IELTS (INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING SYSTEM) FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS?

Yes. TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students, for more information you can consult the English proficiency requirements for graduate study at KU. If you have any further questions regarding test scores or testing options, please contact your admissions outreach advisor.

DO I HAVE TO SUBMIT IELTS/TOEFL SCORES IF I HAVE EARNED A DEGREE FROM A U.S. INSTITUTION?

No, we don't require TOEFL or IELTS scores if you received a baccalaureate degree (or higher) from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education, or from an institution whose medium of instruction is English. This does not apply to previous degrees earned online.

General Admissions Questions

HOW LONG DOES MY PERSONAL STATEMENT NEED TO BE?

Your application must include a personal statement of between 600 and 1,000 words that addresses how this program is going to enhance your career and why you chose the University of Kansas.

WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED OF AN ADMISSION DECISION?

Most admissions decisions will be posted within 7-10 days of receiving a completed application.

WHO SHOULD WRITE MY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION?

Two professional and/or academic letters of recommendation are required from individuals who are well-qualified to judge your character, scholarship and professional abilities. These individuals can be colleagues, immediate supervisors or former professors. If possible we recommend that at least one of the two letters come from an academic person.

IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FLEXIBLE?

The application deadline is firm, although exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis if absolutely necessary.

CAN I MEET WITH A PROGRAM FACULTY MEMBER DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS?

Not at this time.

HOW DOES KU’S COHORT MODEL ALLOW FOR UNPLANNED BREAKS IN THE PROGRAM? AM I ABLE TO TAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE IF NECESSARY?

The online MBA program structure allows students more flexibility to take breaks than many on-ground MBA programs, but not every course is offered every semester. This means that taking unplanned breaks can extend your timeline for completion of the program. All necessary breaks can be discussed with your Student Success Coordinator, or sometimes even directly with your instructors who may be able to accommodate your request.

Students may take a leave of absence for up to one year and still stay active in the program.

WHAT IF I’M A NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKER?

Non-native English speakers must demonstrate proof of English proficiency before gaining admission to a graduate program. More information can be found here.

Online Application Questions

HOW DO I START MY ONLINE APPLICATION?

You can begin your online application by clicking here and following the instructions.

WHAT IF I FORGET MY PASSWORD?

Please click “Forgot Password” to reset it.

WHAT IF I HAVE PROBLEMS WHILE COMPLETING THE APPLICATION?

If you are having issues with our online application system, please contact your admissions outreach advisor.

WHAT IF I CANNOT FIND MY SCHOOL LISTED ON THE APPLICATION?

If you cannot find your school, attempt a different search, taking into consideration the following:

  • Searching within a city or state will return a list of all schools in that selection
  • Searches of three or less characters will only return exact matches
  • If you still cannot find your school after several attempts, click on "none of the above," and enter your school information manually into your application

If you attended a school outside the U.S. or Canada, please follow this link and enter your school name and other information directly into the application.

WHAT IF I CANNOT UPLOAD A FILE?

Ensure that that there are no special characters in the file name. Please adhere to the following suggestions when saving your files for upload:

  • Save and upload your file as a Word doc or PDF. This is the best option for getting past the ASCII character options.
  • Avoid using special characters ( ~, #, %, & , *, {, }, \, :, ?, /, |) in the file name.
  • Use the icon beside the "Upload File" field to remove existing files. If you cannot remove a file that was uploaded in error, contact your admissions outreach advisor for assistance.

If this does not resolve the issue, send the file directly to your admissions outreach advisor.

CAN I SAVE MY APPLICATION AND WORK ON IT LATER?

Yes. You can manually save your application at any point during the online application process and return to it at a later time. You will need your username (email) and password to log back in and complete the application.

WHAT IF I NEED TO RESEND THE EMAIL REFERENCE REQUEST TO MY RECOMMENDER?

You can send a reminder to any recommender who has not responded to your request. Locate your application dashboard and click on “References,” then click on “Manage your recommendations.” From this screen you can see the list of your recommenders and choose an action for each. Select "Send Reminder" from the drop down menu next to the recommender you want to remind.

Schedule Planning

WHAT KIND OF WEEKLY TIME COMMITMENT DOES THIS PROGRAM REQUIRE?

The online MBA program is considered part time and generally requires only 15-20 hours of work per week, including time spent with lectures, research and coursework.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM WHILE ALSO WORKING A FULL-TIME JOB?

Yes. The online MBA program has been designed specifically with the goals of working professionals in mind. Students can log in, view lectures and assignments, and submit required class work as their schedules allow.

APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY COURSES SHOULD I EXPECT TO COMPLETE EACH YEAR?

You are required to complete two courses during each fall, spring and summer term, for a total of six (6) classes per year.

Program Details

HOW WILL I INTERACT WITH MY COHORT PEERS?

Students in the online MBA program can expect to collaborate and communicate with their cohort peers primarily through video conferencing, live chat, discussion boards and email messages related to course assignments. Similarly, faculty will communicate with students through these same channels, along with scheduled phone conversations which are available upon request.

WHAT DOES THE CAPSTONE PROJECT ENTAIL?

The capstone experience parallels full-time, in-person programs in which the project focuses on merging personal experience with student reflection. The course is designed around strategic leadership and thinking, data-driven decision-making, leading and managing execution, and developing and managing performance-based metrics. Utilizing case studies, students can hone their practical leadership and management skills, gaining a competitive advantage in the workplace.
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Still have questions?

Contact an admissions outreach advisor to walk through any admissions questions you have.
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Questions about applying?

Download our application checklist for an easy guide to submitting a success application.
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Ready to start your graduate education?

Advance your career with an online MBA.
IMPORTANT DATES
DEC
16
Application Deadline
December 16
Spring 2025 Term
JAN
21
Next Start
January 21
Spring 2025 Term
EVENTS

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